The transmembrane potential across a charged nanochannel subjected to asymmetric electrolytes

Abstract

The transmembrane voltage, $V$, which is the potential drop required to nullify the electrical current ($i=0$), is a key characteristic of water desalination and energy harvesting systems that utilize macroscopically large nanoporous membranes, as well as for physiological ion channels subjected to asymmetric salt concentrations. To date, existing analytical expressions for $V_{i=0}$ have been limited to simple scenarios or under simplifying assumptions. In this work, we derive two expressions for $V_{i=0}$. First, we consider the much simpler scenario of two species. Then, we can consider an electrolyte comprised of an arbitrary number of species. The difference in the models is that the latter solution utilizes an ad-hoc assumption of a linear concentration profile, while the former solution does not require such an ad-hoc assumption. We analyze both models and show how to reduce them to several known models. We also verify both models with numerical simulations of the one-dimensional Poisson-Nernst-Planck equations. We show how the interplay between diffusion coefficients and ionic valencies significantly varies the system response and why it is essential to account for all system parameters. Ultimately, this model can be used to improve experimental interpretation of ion transport measurements